FRASERVILLE, ON — Doug Brown and Joe Stutzman had the keys to the Kawartha Downs winner’s circle on Tuesday evening, teaming up to win three of seven Grassroots divisions for the three-year-old pacing colts.
The talented twosome kicked off the evening with a 1:54.1 score in the first race with long shot Bees N Honey. After recovering from an early break in stride Brown sat at the rear of the pack with the Village Jiffy son and then hit overdrive heading down the stretch. Bees N Honey responded with an impressive finishing kick that propelled him to the three-quarter length victory over Cherry Tree Chuck and Mustang Any Size.
Shawn Christner of Lisle, IL, David Falzone of Lake In The Hills, IL and Edward Mihalek of Glenellyn, IL share ownership on Bees N Honey, who was making his first start north of the border. The win was the second of the season for the gelding and lowered his personal best by almost two seconds.
Brown and Stutzman were back in front of Kawartha fans after the eighth race with Quiet Flight, Brown once again opting for a come from behind strategy to achieve the 1:54 score. Owned by Alexander Gordon of London, Quiet Flight now has one win, one third and one fourth in Grassroots action with one event remaining in the regular season. Another strong finish in the Oct. 12 event at Georgian Downs could propel the Pacific Rocket son into the Grassroots Semifinal.
Aqua Powered and pacesetter Swingman rounded out the top three in the eighth race.
The driver and trainer wrapped up a stellar night in Race 10 when Downhill Skier outsprinted pacesetter Ready For Battle through the stretch to score his first victory of the season. The Rambaran gelding stalked Ready For Battle through much of the race, moving to his outside heading for the three-quarters and then drawing away to a two length, 1:55.3 victory down the stretch. Favourite XLB Joker had to settle for third-spot in the $15,962 event.
Brad Gray of Dundas owns Downhill Skier, who improved his record to one win, two seconds and one third in 11 starts with the win.
Stutzman picked up a remarkable fourth victory in Race 3 with Tristin Seelster. Tony Kerwood drove the Camluck colt to the 1:54.4 triumph, while Brown steered long shot Grins Delight, a colt he also trains, into second-place. Northern Raucous earned the third-place finisher’s share.
Tristin Seelster moved into sole possession of first place in the division standings with the victory, boasting a total of 183 points from three wins, one second and one fourth in Grassroots action. Gaetan Bono of Laval, QC owns the winner of $41,304.
The other Grassroots divisions went to Great Expense in 1:54, The Drunkard in 1:53.4 and Island Zeeker in 1:54.4.
The sophomore pacing colts wrap up their regular season at Georgian Downs on Oct. 12, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Kawartha Downs on Saturday, Oct. 9 with a Trillium Series for the impressive three-year-old trotting fillies.